During pregnancy, changes occur in the woman’s body. Most of them are considered normal. But there are manifestations requiring medical intervention. One of the most common disorders that makes every woman in a position worried is dark feces during pregnancy. Why pregnant women change stool color, and what it signals about, is described in the article.
Body restructuring
From the moment of conception, processes aimed at developing the fetus begin in the body of a woman. The pregnant woman feels worse and feels problems with the gastrointestinal tract. In the first months of pregnancy, existing diseases of the digestive system may worsen or new diseases may arise. The result may be changes in the consistency and color of feces.
Much depends on the nutrition of the pregnant. Eating fried, salted, smoked food can lead to a number of complications in the work of the stomach and pancreas.
Dark feces during pregnancy in the early stages also occur due to hormonal changes. The body of a woman produces a large amount of the hormone progesterone, which affects all organs, causing them to function differently. Therefore, dark feces during pregnancy do not always indicate diseases. In many cases, such a change is normal and does not require medical intervention.
In addition to darkening feces, a woman changes the frequency of urination, pulse, pressure, hemoglobin level and even the psychological state.
Other causes of stool discoloration
Very often, stool darkening is the norm and occurs as a result of hormonal activity of the body. Also, feces of a dark color during pregnancy are due to the use of certain drugs or synthetic vitamins. Manufacturers of drugs always indicate in the instructions the effect of the components on the organs of different systems.
Sometimes pregnant women can drink activated charcoal during an indigestion. This natural sorbent is allowed for women in position, but under its action, a change in the color of feces can be observed. In this case, there is no reason for concern.
Also, dark feces during pregnancy are observed if a woman ate foods containing dark pigments. Organic colorants are not absorbed by the body and come out with feces, giving it a dark color.
If, in addition to changing the stool, no other disorders are noticed and the pregnant woman is normal, she should not panic. Doctors recommend that such women observe their health for several days. If during this time the color of feces does not change, you should visit a doctor.
Foods that change the color of feces
Dark feces during pregnancy may be the result of eating the following foods:
- Berries of black color (blueberries, currants).
- Some fruits (blue grapes, pomegranate).
- Prunes
- Dark vegetables (beets, tomatoes).
- Offal (blood, liver).
- Drinks (red wine, juices from dark grape varieties, coffee).
If on the eve of the pregnant woman ate any of the listed products, most likely she is healthy. Darkening of feces occurred under the influence of coloring pigments, which the body removed with digested food.
Action of medicines
Often women observe changes in stool after taking the drugs. Darkening of feces can cause such drugs:
- Iron preparations (Ferrum-Lek, Sorbifer, Tardiferon).
- Multivitamins that contain iron ("Elevit", "Vitrum").
- Sorbents (activated carbon).
- Preparations, which include bismuth ("De-Nol").
- Anti-inflammatory drugs of the non-steroidal group ("Ibuprofen", "Indomethacin", "Aspirin").
In most women, hemoglobin decreases during pregnancy. Therefore, doctors prescribe them drugs to provide the body with the necessary amount of iron. Reception of such funds is the most common cause of black feces.
Before prescribing an iron preparation, the therapist should talk about possible changes in the stool so that the woman calmly responds to dark feces.
Alarms
Sometimes black feces can be a symptom of the disease. It may indicate bleeding of the digestive system. Pregnant women who previously had a stomach ulcer or duodenal ulcer are at risk. In such women, dark feces during pregnancy may indicate internal bleeding provoked by an open ulcer. But in this case, not only the color changes, but also the consistency of the chair.
Other symptoms of possible health problems:
- worsening of well-being;
- pallor;
- cold sweat.
If, in addition to darkening the feces, a woman has the listed symptoms, it is necessary to seek medical help.
If the feces are green
Dark green feces during pregnancy indicate a change in a woman's nutrition. Basically, staining the stool green is associated with a particular diet. Many pregnant women take great care of their health and consume an excessive amount of green leafy vegetables. Broccoli, spinach, lettuce contain a green pigment that stains the feces in an appropriate color.
Also, the cause of the green color of feces can be complexes of vitamins and minerals. Such preparations contain in large quantities various trace elements, the undigested part of which turns the stool green.
Prevention of stool disorders
In most cases, discoloration of feces is not a symptom of the disease. Most often, darkening of the stool is provoked by dietary disorders.
In order for the gastrointestinal tract to work normally, doctors advise pregnant women to monitor the intake of various products, correctly draw up a daily diet and carefully monitor the body's reaction to medications.
In some cases, feces during pregnancy of a dark color are associated with diseases of the digestive system. Therefore, women who previously had gastrointestinal diseases should carefully monitor their health and the entire pregnancy should be monitored by a therapist. To prevent complications, the doctor may prescribe prophylactic drugs.
Dark feces arising from taking the iron preparation is not a reason to cancel it. Iron deficiency can lead to the development of intrauterine pathologies and even cause premature birth. In this case, it is recommended to discuss with the doctor all the exciting issues in order to respond normally to changes in the body.
If stool darkening is caused by a disease, treatment should be taken seriously. Diseases of a pregnant woman can adversely affect the fetus.